Spencer Cancer Center receives grant from American Cancer Society

September 25, 2020

Cancer patients undergoing treatment frequently require assistance getting to and from facilities, often creating a financial and logistical burden. That’s why the American Cancer Society recently awarded a $10,000 transportation grant to EAMC’s Spencer Cancer Center in Opelika. The grants are given by the American Cancer Society’s South Region to address the transportation needs of cancer patients.

“As we lead the fight for a world without cancer, it is our responsibilty to find new ways to collaborate, innovate and drive support for these patients,” said Jeff Fehlis, executive vice president of the American Cancer Society. “We’re proud to collaborate with community health partners to serve individuals in areas with higher burdens of cancer and limited or no access to transportation because even the best treatment can’t work if a patient can’t get there.”

“On behalf of our team at East Alabama Medical Center and the Spencer Cancer Center, we are very grateful to the American Cancer Society for awarding us this grant,” said Spencer Cancer Center Oncology social worker Chelsea Kroll. “Serving at least nine Alabama counties as well as residents of Georgia, one of our top referrals to the social work department is for transportation and gasoline assistance. This grant will definitely help remove some of the barriers that patients can face when seeking to access cancer care.”

An estimated 28,570 Alabama residents will learn they have cancer this year and getting to their scheduled treatment may be one of their greatest roadblocks. To help patients get the critical care they need, American Cancer Society community transportation grants are awarded to health systems, treatment centers and community organizations. These grants are available in select communities across the American Cancer Society’s South Region through an application process and focus on addressing unmet transportation needs of cancer patients, particularly vulnerable populations experiencing an unequal burden of cancer. The Society’s South Region includes Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas.

The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of nearly 2 million volunteers dedicated to saving lives, celebrating lives, and leading the fight for a world without cancer. From breakthrough research, to free lodging near treatment, a 24/7/365 live helpline, free rides to treatment, and convening powerful activists to create awareness and impact, the Society is the only organization attacking cancer from every angle. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and www.cancer.org/al.

East Alabama Medical Center is a 340-bed regional referral hospital located in Opelika that serves a nine-county area. The EAMC organization includes EAMC-Lanier hospital in Valley; between the two hospitals and their collective service lines, there are about 3,500 employees in the organization. EAMC is the second largest employer in the region, trailing only Auburn University. Among the services EAMC provides are open-heart surgery and cancer treatment. The hospital also operates multiple physician practices and the Auburn University Medical Clinic. EAMC is in the process of building a Freestanding Emergency Department and Ambulatory Surgery Center in neighboring Auburn. EAMC-Lanier has a nursing home, acute rehab unit, and offers occupational medicine. For more information, please visit www.eamc.org.